How do you improve global reputation ?

**Shahed** · 11-30-2006, 12:18

That's cool chunky. Thanks.

I did'nt do much for specific faction relationships, I guess giving gifts would help, and accepting some proposals as well. I'll have to try that in the restart. Cash was tight though so could'nt give away too much.

**R'as al Ghul** · 11-30-2006, 12:23

Keeping in touch with your allies and trade partners is very important.
I'm allied with the French as Venice for about 150 turns. The relations were poor, though. I then offered some gifts, such as maps, single payments or small tributes. The relations improved to good in the end.
Every few turns or so I'll give my new map as a gift to the Pope. I'm always getting the "Of course, we accept this gift with open arms" and "You truly have our best interest at heart" lines.
Actively fighting the enemies of your allies should helps also.

R'as

**Daveybaby** · 11-30-2006, 12:23

Yup, throwing money at them works wonders. Something like a couple of hundred per turn for 5 turns will make quite a difference. Obviously you cant afford to do that for everyone, but it's nice to keep one or two of your neighbours sweet while you concentrate on taking out the others.

**PseRamesses** · 11-30-2006, 13:11

As R'as al Ghul states frequent diplomatic contacts are essential. I usually end up with one diplomat with each faction, except in Italy where one takes care of 4 factions. Offering maps, 100 florins etc as gifts now and then will slowly raise your standings. Initially I concentrate on Novgorod and the Moors which are quite easily swayed your way.

**Bob the Insane** · 11-30-2006, 14:25

I like to abstract that reputation thing to include respect...

If you turtle and are non-aggressive you will wonder why the other factions start taking a to dislike you, well... You don't play the politics game keeping them sweet with gifts, you don't build up your armed forces to silly levels and crush mutual enemies so they do not respect you militarily... If you are a small non-threatening kingdom then no matter how nice you are the other factions will starting look at you as a likely target rather than an ally...

Add to that it appears on Hard or Vary Hard Campaigns (at least) it would appear that your reputation automatically degrades over time, so if you are not activaly imporving it it will end up sucking.

As said before it is best to pick those you want as allies and spend the time, effort and cash to keep them sweet (even if you are playing a defensive game). Note that one of the biggest positive impacts to reputation with is to grant land to another faction. So if an ally is attacked and losses a settlement, get in there, take it back and give it back and your reputation with them will go through the roof... Of course this can backfire when your chosen ally annoys the Pope and gets excommunicated, but this is all part of the fun...

**Quillan** · 11-30-2006, 15:56

There's a difference between relations and reputation. Reputation is global, relation is faction specific. In my experience over two campaigns, the only way to improve your reputation is to do poorly. My reputation has invariably dropped whenever I add to my empire, whether it's the addition of Muslim or French lands. The factions that have Reliable and Very Reliable as their reputations are the ones that are getting their asses handed to them, or just never expand. The Papal States are very reliable in my current game, and only have their starting province. The Moors were very reliable in my Byzantine game, when Spain had reduced them to the point where they only held Tunis and Tripoli before making peace. However, my reputation as Spain is down to dubious, after taking Marrakesh, Algiers, Tunis, Antioch, Acre and Jerusalem.

Certainly the diplomatic stuff affects it; if you attack an ally, or cancel trade rights, you take a hit to reputation. I've seen the backstabbers who are doing poorly wind up with bottom tier reputations, but I'm pretty sure nobody trusts the big dog.

**chunkynut** · 11-30-2006, 16:24

Originally Posted by Quillan

I've seen the backstabbers who are doing poorly wind up with bottom tier reputations, but I'm pretty sure nobody trusts the big dog.

I agree to an extent but the big dog that fights with allies against mutual enemies will be more reputable.

**Quillan** · 11-30-2006, 16:41

That could explain some fluctuations then. I'm currently allied with the Papal States, and we are both at war with the Moors. My reputation has gone up as well as down, just never getting above mixed. I think I'm still dubious. I may have to go to war with Sicily. They've been excommunicated, and decided to attack the Pope.